Golf putter

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses a golf putter having a head comprising three components. These are a main body, a face plate and a sole plate. The body has a rear surface that is a segment of a cylinder having a diameter substantially the same as that of a standard putting green cup. The body has a stepped front face into which opens a recess defined by a segment of a cylindrical surface of a diameter substantially the same as that of a standard golf ball. A plane bisecting the rear and recess surfaces passes through their centers and the sweet spot on the face plate.

Unite States Patent [1 1 Gaulocher 1 Oct. 15, 1974 GOLF PUTTER Appl.No.: 277,807

[52] US. Cl. 273/164, 273/78, 273/167 R, 273/167 F, 273/183 D [51] Int.Cl A63b 53/04 [58] Field of Search 273/77 R, 78, 80 R, 80 C,273/163175,193,194,l83 D [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS1,485,685 3/1924 McMahon 273/173 X 1,589,363 6/1926 Butchart 273/172'1,690,388 11/1928 Waldron 273/167 G 1,703,199 2/1929 McClure 273/164 X1,960,110 5/1934 lles 273/162 E 2,056,335 10/1936 Wettlaufer 273/171 X2,213,190 9/1940 Haverbach 273/167 E X 2,445,718 7/1948 Sternberg et a1273/164 UX 3,042,405 7/1962 Solheim 273/80 R 3,240,497 3/1966 Taylor273/173 X 3,333,854 8/1967 White 273/173 X 3,708,172 l/1973 3,779,39812/1973 Hunter 273/175 X Dl6l,790 l/l95l Sappington 273/167 D X FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 8,954 5/1893 Great Britain 273/167 R PrimaryExaminer-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney,Agent, or FirmJohn A. Robertson [57] ABSTRACT This specificationdiscloses a golf putter having a head comprising three components. Theseare a main body, a face plate and a sole plate. The body has a rearsurface that is a segment of a cylinder having a diameter substantiallythe same as that of a standard putting green cup. The body has a'steppedfront face into which opens'a recess defined by a segment of acylindrical surface of a diameter substantially the same as that of astandard golf ball. A plane bisecting the rear and recess surfacespasses through their centers and the sweet spot on the face plate.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures GOLF PUTTER The present invention relates togolf putters and is concerned primarily with a putter head which isdesigned to aid a player in lining up a putt with respect to at puttinggreen cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Much inventive and developmental work hasbeen directed to the end of aiding a golfer in making a putt. As ageneral rule, it may be stated that this involves two factors. One ofthese is the balance and distribution of weight in the head tofacilitate the making of a smooth, even putting stroke. The otherinvolves including in the head either a structural design or markingswhich will assist the player in lining up a putt.

Every putter head includes on the face which engages the ball aso-called sweet spot. This is the spot where the head should engage theball to provide the best effect. In many putters, this spot is marked bya cross, and even if not so marked, it is inherently present. It isimportant that the ball-engaging face of a putter be nicely finished toprovide a smooth, even surface which is not marred by dents or otherdisfiguring elements.

The cups of putting greens are now standardized as to their size asdetermined by the diameter thereof. Golf balls are also'fairly wellstandardized as to their diametric size. At the present time, it isknown to provide a putter including a head having a front face includingthe sweet spot above mentioned and a curved rear face defined by an arcof a circle, the diameter of which is substantially the same as that ofa standard putting green cup. The head is formed with a recess whichopens into this rear face and which is defined by a circular surfacethat is a segment of a cylindrical surface having a diametersubstantially the same as that of a standard golf ball. A planebisecting the arcs of the circular rear face and the recess passesthrough the sweet spot. A putter of this type has proven to be greatlybeneficial in aiding a golfer in lining up his putting stroke withrespect to the ball and the cup. The aforesaid putter is fully disclosedin the application of James T. Hunter, Ser. No. 119,301, filed Feb. 2-6,1971 and entitled Golf Putter Head" and now US. Pat; No.

The putter head above described is an integral onepiece affair and itsmanufacture presents certain problems in providing the properdistribution of weight with respect to the sweet spot and also inproviding a nicely finished putting face. Moreover, while the two arcswhich intersect on the rear surface afford assistance to the golfer inlining up a putt to a noticeable degree, it is believed that thisproperty of the head may be improved.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing conditions in mind, thepresent invention has in view the following objectives:

1. To provide a golf putter head comprising three components which aresusceptible of individual manufacture and which are subsequentlyassembled into the head structure.

2. To provide a golf putter head of the type noted which comprises amain body, a sole plate and a face plate.

3. To provide, in a golf putter head of the character aforesaid, a bodyhaving a curved rear surface that is a segment of a cylinder having adiameter substantially I the same as that of a standard golf cup, and astepped front face into which opens a recess defined by a cylindricalsurface that is a segment of a cylinder, the diameter of which issubstantially the same as a standard golf ball.

4. To provide a golf putter head of the type noted in which a planebisecting the rear and recess surfaces passes through the sweet spot onthe face plate.

5. To provide, in a golf putter head of the kind described, a bodyhaving a front face that is divided into two sections by the recesswhich opens thereinto, with an overhanging shoulder at the upper edge ofeach section, with the face plate having wing portions in faceto-faceengagement with the sections of the front face of the body and an upwardcentral extension that is received between said shoulders.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention suchas arise in connection with carrying out the above ideas in a practicalembodiment will, in part, become apparent, and, in part, be hereafterstated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are achieved by providinga putter head comprising a main body, a sole plate and a face plate. Thebody has a rear segmental, cylindrical surface, the diameter of which issubstantially the same as that of a standard golf cup. The body has afront face into which opens a segmental, cylindrical surface having adiameter substantially the same as that of a standard golf ball andwhich divides the front face of the body into two sections ofsubstantially the same size and shape. At the top of each of thesesections there is a forwardly extending flange presenting an overhangingshoulder. The face plate has wing portions'which engage the sections ofthe face of the body beneath said overhanging shoulders and a centralupward extension that is positioned between the flanges. The face platehas a sweet spot and a vertical plane bisecting the segmental surfacespasses through this sweet spot. The sole plate has a rear edge surfaceof a size and curvature corresponding to that of the body and a straightfront edge which aligns with the face sections of the body.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, referencemay be had "to the following description and the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating the components of the golf putterhead of this invention in exploded relatron;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the body and sole plate asassembled, but with the face plate omitted;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the putter head as fullyassembled and as taken along the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; withthe face plate added FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the putter head andillustrating somewhat diagrammatically a golf ball and a putting greencup, and

FIG. 5 is a section of a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, wherein likereference characters denote corresponding elements throughout theseveral views, and first more particularly to FIG. 1, the golf putterhead of this invention is shown as comprising a main body which isidentified in its entirety by the reference character 10, a sole plate11 and a face plate 12. At this point, it is well to note that theseelements 10, 11 and 12 may be made of any material having the requiredspecific gravity, with metal being indicated as the preferred material.Under ordinary conditions, body 19 and face plate 12 will be of the samematerial, and one having a high specific gravity such as brass, whilethe sole plate 11 is of a lighter metal such as aluminum.

Body presents a rear surface 13 which is a segment of a cylinder havingthe diameter of a standard putting green cup such as represented at 14in FIG. 4. Body 10 has a flat upper face 15, a flat lower face 16 and afront face comprising two sections 17. Each of the face sections 17terminates at its upper end in edge 18. Body 10 is continued forwardlyof these edges 18 to provide flanges 19 which present shoulders 20 whichoverhang face sections 17.

lntegrally joined with body 10 is a hose] 21 which presents a socket 22which receives the end of a shaft, as depicted in broken linesthroughout the views.

Body 10 is formed with a central recess which opens into its front facebetween the face sections 17. This recess is defined by a segmental,cylindrical surface 23 having a diameter substantially the same as thatof a standard golf ball which is represented at 24 in FIG. 4.

Face plate 12 includes a front face 25 which is accurately machined andfinished to provide a smooth surface uninterrupted by dents or othermars. It includes wings 26 each having a rear face 27 in face-to-faceengagement with one of the face sections 17. Each wing 26 also includesa top edge surface 28 which engages one of the shoulders 20. Betweenthese top edge surfaces 28 is a central upward extension 29 defined byend edges 30 and a top surface 31. When assembled with body 10, endsurfaces 30 engage the ends of flanges I9 and top surface 31 is flushwith the top surface of body 10.

A sole plate 11 takes the form of a segment of a disc defined by rearcurved surface 32 of the same diameter as segmental rear surface 13 ofbody 10 and a straight front edge surface 33 which aligns with the facesections 17. When assembled, face plate 12 overlies sole plate 11 andengages front edge surface 33.

Front face 25 of face plate 12 has a sweet spot 34 and when thecomponents are assembled, a vertical plane bisecting the segmental,cylindrical surfaces 13 and 23 passes through this sweet spot 34.Stating it another way, it will be noted that segmental, cylindricalsurface 23 is continued over the ends of flanges 19 and these continuedportions intersect front face 25 of face plate 12. Sweet spot 34 ismidway between these points of intersection.

It will be understood that the so-called sweet spot 34 is the point onthe face plate which will percussively engage the ball with the besteffects. This term is now commonly used by golfers, both professionaland amateur, with this meaning imparted thereto. The term sweet spot" ismore accurately defined as basically the center of percussion and isbased upon the weight distribution in the club head, and common practicedictates that the center of weight distribution and the geometric centerof the club face should coincide.

It will be appreciated that by manufacturing the body 10, sole plate 11and face plate 12 as individual elements, they may be readily producedwith the proper distribution of weight therein and with front face 25 offace plate 12 accurately finished. The components are then assembled andmay be secured together in any preferred manner, such as by using anadhesive, solder or fastening elements, such as metal screws.

FIG. 5 illustrates a slightly modified form of the relation between thefront portion of the sole plate and the face plate. In this form, faceplate 12 has a height that is less than the height of this element inthe embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, with the difference being thethickness of the sole plate 11. Front edge surface 33 of the latteraligns with and is flushed with front surface 25 of face plate 12.

In using the putter, the player avails of the segmental, cylindricalsurfaces 13 and 23 in lining up the putter head with respect to puttinggreen cup 14 and ball 24. The segmental, cylindrical surfaces areparticularly helpful in this respect, because, with the sole plate 11resting on the green, they should be substantially vertical and theproper relation with the ball is readily ascertained.

While a preferred specific embodiment is herein disclosed, it is to beclearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exactconstruction, materials and devices illustrated and described, becausevarious modifications of these details may be provided in putting theinvention into practice.

What is claimed is:

1. In a golf putter, a head comprising:

a. a main solid body portion having an undersurface,

a top surface, a rear segmental, cylindrical surface extending betweensaid top and under surfaces and defined by a diameter substantially thesame as that of a standard putting green cup, a pair of spacedsubstantially flat, coplanar face sections between which opens a recessdefined by a segmental, cylindrical surface of a diameter substantiallythe same as that of a standard golf ball, a flange extending forwardlyof each of said face sections and presenting a shoulder overhanging eachof said sections, thetop surface of said flanges being an extension ofsaid top surface of said body portion, and a hosel integrally joined tosaid body at the top surface thereof;

b. an elongated substantially flat face plate having a finished frontface with a sweet spot and a rear flat surface, a pair of wings, each ofsaid wings having a top edge surface which engages said overhangingshoulders, said rear flat surfaces of each wing being in face-to-faceengagement with said face sections, and a central portion upwardlyextending from said top edge surfaces and upwardly extending betweensaid flanges and being flush with the side surfaces of said flanges,said face plate and the front surfaces of said flanges beingsubstantially coplanar and forming the front face of said putter;

c. a sole plate having a rear segmental, cylindrical surface of the samediameter as that of the rear surface of the body with which it alignsand a straight front edge surface below said face sections, and

d. means securing said body portion, face plate and sole plate inassembled relation,

said body and face plate being related so that a vertical planebisecting said segmental, cylindrical surfaces passes through said sweetspot.

5. The golf putter head of claim 1 in which the front edge of the soleplate aligns with the face sections of the body.

6. The golf putter head of claim 1 in which the front edge of the soleplate aligns with the front face of the face plate.

1. In a golf putter, a head comprising: a. a main solid body portionhaving an undersurface, a top surface, a rear segmental, cylindricalsurface extending between said top and under surfaces and defined by adiameter substantially the same as that of a standard putting green cup,a pair of spaced substantially flat, coplanar face sections betweenwhich opens a recess defined by a segmental, cylindrical surface of adiameter substantially the same as that of a standard golf ball, aflange extending forwardly of each of said face sections and presentinga shoulder overhanging each of said sections, the top surface of saidflanges being an extension of said top surface of said body portion, anda hosel integrally joined to said body at the top surface thereof; b. anelongated substantially flat face plate having a finished front facewith a sweet spot and a rear flat surface, a pair of wings, each of saidwings having a top edge surface which engages said overhangingshoulders, said rear flat surfaces of each wing being in face-to-faceengagement with said face sections, and a central portion upwardlyextending from said top edge surfaces and upwardly extending betweensaid flanges and being flush with the side surfaces of said flanges,said face plate and the front surfaces of said flanges beingsubstantially coplanar and forming the front face of said putter; c. asole plate having a rear segmental, cylindrical surface of the samediameter as that of the rear surface of the body with which it alignsand a straight front edge surface below said face sections, and d. meanssecuring said body portion, face plate and sole plate in assembledrelation, said body and face plate being related so that a verticalplane bisecting said segmental, cylindrical surfaces passes through saidsweet spot.
 2. The golf putter head of claim 1 in which said main body,face plate and sole plate are of metal.
 3. The golf putter head of claim2 in which the sole plate is of a metal of a lower specific gravity thanthat of said main body and face plate.
 4. The golf putter head of claim1 in which means for securing the body, face plate and sole platetogether is an adhesive.
 5. The golf putter head of claim 1 in which thefront edge of the sole plate aligns with the face sections of the body.6. The golf putter head of claim 1 in which the front edge of the soleplate aligns with the front face of the face plate.